How to win as an underdog - The Underdog Effect

 How to win as an underdog

The Underdog Effect - by Daniel Ferguson

What is an underdog? An underdog is the individual or team that isn't expected to win. In 2016, Leicester won the Premier League. They defeated all odds by achieving the title over the likes of Arsenal, Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur. No one expected it, but it happened. This is up there with one of the greatest underdog stories, but how does the underdog defeat the odds?



Other stories such as Newcastle beating PSG in their return to the Champions League or in rival matches when the unexpected rival wins like when Everton beat Liverpool 2-0, highlight that no team or individual can ever be underestimated. Underdog stories are fascinating to watch and as spectators we're drawn into them, illustrated by the popularity of Rocky films.

How can the underdog win?

It's a mindset thing. When the opponents are clearly and statistically better, how can it not be? As an underdog, still focus on working hard in training and preparing physically for battle, however build an underdog mindset, but in the right way.

As an underdog it's very easy to create a defeatist mindset: "they're better than us, they're supposed to win," "it doesn't matter if we lose today, they're expected to win." 

Use positive underdog self-talk

As a team:
  • "no matter what, we believe we can win"
  • "this game is ours for the taking"
  • "let's work together and prove the odds wrong, we deserve as much as they do"
As an individual:
  • "I believe in myself to beat any opponent"
  • "I'm going to focus on the process of the game, on winning each tackle, making each pass my best and this help me achieve something great"
  • "I have a chance of beating anybody"
This positive underdog self-talk shifts your focus and attention into a winning mindset, over a defeatist one. Didier Drogba once said, "if there's a 1% chance in us winning, then I believe in it."

Have a sense of togetherness

This can apply to an individual as well as a team, since even in individual sports, it may just be you out there competing, but you have a support system of coaches and staff. Everyone can go into competition believing they're capable of winning. If everyone believes this on the team, naturally this energy will diffuse into the performance, creating a sense of togetherness that winning is more than possible. 


The psychology behind an underdog winning

Often when an underdog wins it can be due to the opponents underestimating who they're coming up against. They don't prepare themselves as much as they can because they think they have an easier game that day. This is where an underdog's belief can accomplish anything, make use of the opponents lack of preparation. 

Underdogs want to upset the opponents so they put maximum effort in (Vealey, 1998). There's an increased motivation. This can be intrinsic (from within the individual), for example, they want to win for their own satisfaction or extrinsic (for an external reward) such as proving themselves to others that they're capable of winning (Ryan and Deci, 2000). 

So next time you find yourself being, 'the underdog' how can you best prepare your mindset, to believe you can accomplish victory?



Find Daniel Ferguson on:
LinkedIn: Daniel Ferguson
Instagram: @danferguson_sp
Twitter: @DanFergusonSP








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